Thematic Context One development that impacted President James Buchanan was the establishment of Harper’s Weekly, a New York based magazine that covered politics. It was the most widely read publication during the time of the Civil War. Harper’s Weekly mocked Buchanan’s defense of his presidential policies that pertained to the war, through a cartoon. This publication, however, also helped the globalization of the United States. Not only were the people of the country more interconnected through reading this magazine, people of foreign countries could have a first hand perspective of the inner-workings of the United States as well. This publication provided a venue for which people on a worldwide scale could experience the realm of American politics during the Civil War, instead of simply hearing about it inside sources. The same argument can be made with The Impending Crisis of the South by Hinton R. Helper, which was published in 1857. Many people were strongly influenced by literature such as Helper’s in deciding whether or not slavery should be abolished. Helper’s work spread to other parts of the world, changing the opinion about slavery for whites globally to be abolitionist.
Thesis James Buchanan made no impressive contributions to the state of America during his presidency. His indecisiveness and refusal to take true action made him a useless president and an ineffective leader. For this, Buchanan receives a F. In the beginning of his presidency, Buchanan truly believed that the South and the North could still maintain diplomacy if everybody simply followed the rulings of the Supreme Court, which did not work out the way he planned. When the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in 1858, no Republican legislations were passed, as they were all defeated by the Southern-controlled Senate or President Buchanan’s vote, another demonstration of how the government made little improvement under Buchanan’s presidency. As the election of 1860 neared, Southern states threatened to secede, and they were quite eager to follow through. Bungling Buchanan, however, believed that while the states had no right to constitutionally secede, the federal government had no constitutional power to stop them. Thus, the Southern states gleefully waved goodbye as they began to drop from the Union.
Goals James Buchanan’s main and most obvious goal was to lessen the sectionalism that plagued the country he inherited. The hatred brewing between the North and the South were causing talks of secession, and of course, Buchanan wanted to prevent that. In his inaugural speech, Buchanan outlined his wishes for Kansas to be admitted into the Union as a state that would decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, and this eventually caused rifts between Buchanan and his own party as well as alienation from the Republican party. However, Buchanan believed that slavery would not need to be a divisor of the country, despite all the evidence against this. Obviously, Buchanan did not accomplish his goals of reuniting the North and the South, as the South easily seceded under Buchanan.
Relationship with Congress President Buchanan’s relationship with Congress had been rather weak. As previously mentioned, Buchanan vetoed all of the bills that Republican-controlled House of Representatives wrote, and many Southerners disliked him because they thought he was a Northerner who sided with the Union too often. For example, the House passed a 1859 bill that would donate territories to colleges that would utilize the land for agriculture and mechanic arts, and Buchanan vetoed it. Buchanan also blocked the House from passing a 1861 bill that would “provide relief for Hockaday and Leggit.”
Positive Outcome The most positive decision that Buchanan and his administration made was to not run again for the presidency. Buchanan’s choice of inactive policy made no progress in America, and if Buchanan had been reelected for another term, there is no doubt that the Union would have been in a dark position with a low-quality leader. Thus, Buchanan’s decision to step down from the office of President was the decision he made as the President.
Negative Outcome The most negative decision that Buchanan and his administrations made was supporting the Supreme Court Dredd Scott decision. Seeing as Buchanan’s goal was to unify the North and the South, this was the least effective thing he could do. It is implied that Buchanan urged the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the South, and even the Southerners were surprised in the decision that basically eradicated any progress made by abolitionists so far. Supporting the Dredd Scott ruling was completely unnecessary and contradictory to Buchanan’s goals as president, and he should have predicted that the North would have hated the South a great deal more because of it.
Influential Decision President Buchanan’s most influential decision was the lack of action when South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860. President Buchanan stuck to the Constitution with great tenacity, and he idly watched as the Southern states rejected their place in the Union to start their own country. The seceding states left with so much ease, that it is said that President Buchanan ensured the Civil War would happen. Instead of taking any steps to reinforce the power of the federal government over the rebellious states, Buchanan sat back and waited for compromise, though none ever came, as the Southern states were stubborn in their desire for secession. Any action that Buchanan could have taken might have made a difference, but no, Buchanan rather have had done nothing at all than to possibly violate the Constitution. Clearly, the president that Buchanan’s actions or lack thereof influenced the most was President Lincoln, who had to clean up the mess that Buchanan left for him. President Buchanan left the country in a state of turmoil and rebellion, and Lincoln had to find a way to stitch the country back together.
Conclusion President Monroe had an unimpressive impact on the country, thus his grade of a F. During his time in office, Buchanan takes little to no action on any matters, increases the division between the North and South, and oversimplifies the blatantly controversial issue of slavery in America. All of this contradicted the goals Buchanan outlined in his inaugural address, and thus, he made absolutely no progress for America.
Born April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania
Died June 1, 1868 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Political Party Democrat
Terms 1857 -- 1861
Vice President John C. Breckinridge
Thematic Context
One development that impacted President James Buchanan was the establishment of Harper’s Weekly, a New York based magazine that covered politics. It was the most widely read publication during the time of the Civil War. Harper’s Weekly mocked Buchanan’s defense of his presidential policies that pertained to the war, through a cartoon. This publication, however, also helped the globalization of the United States. Not only were the people of the country more interconnected through reading this magazine, people of foreign countries could have a first hand perspective of the inner-workings of the United States as well. This publication provided a venue for which people on a worldwide scale could experience the realm of American politics during the Civil War, instead of simply hearing about it inside sources. The same argument can be made with The Impending Crisis of the South by Hinton R. Helper, which was published in 1857. Many people were strongly influenced by literature such as Helper’s in deciding whether or not slavery should be abolished. Helper’s work spread to other parts of the world, changing the opinion about slavery for whites globally to be abolitionist.
Thesis
James Buchanan made no impressive contributions to the state of America during his presidency. His indecisiveness and refusal to take true action made him a useless president and an ineffective leader. For this, Buchanan receives a F. In the beginning of his presidency, Buchanan truly believed that the South and the North could still maintain diplomacy if everybody simply followed the rulings of the Supreme Court, which did not work out the way he planned. When the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in 1858, no Republican legislations were passed, as they were all defeated by the Southern-controlled Senate or President Buchanan’s vote, another demonstration of how the government made little improvement under Buchanan’s presidency. As the election of 1860 neared, Southern states threatened to secede, and they were quite eager to follow through. Bungling Buchanan, however, believed that while the states had no right to constitutionally secede, the federal government had no constitutional power to stop them. Thus, the Southern states gleefully waved goodbye as they began to drop from the Union.
Goals
James Buchanan’s main and most obvious goal was to lessen the sectionalism that plagued the country he inherited. The hatred brewing between the North and the South were causing talks of secession, and of course, Buchanan wanted to prevent that. In his inaugural speech, Buchanan outlined his wishes for Kansas to be admitted into the Union as a state that would decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, and this eventually caused rifts between Buchanan and his own party as well as alienation from the Republican party. However, Buchanan believed that slavery would not need to be a divisor of the country, despite all the evidence against this. Obviously, Buchanan did not accomplish his goals of reuniting the North and the South, as the South easily seceded under Buchanan.
Relationship with Congress
President Buchanan’s relationship with Congress had been rather weak. As previously mentioned, Buchanan vetoed all of the bills that Republican-controlled House of Representatives wrote, and many Southerners disliked him because they thought he was a Northerner who sided with the Union too often. For example, the House passed a 1859 bill that would donate territories to colleges that would utilize the land for agriculture and mechanic arts, and Buchanan vetoed it. Buchanan also blocked the House from passing a 1861 bill that would “provide relief for Hockaday and Leggit.”
Positive Outcome
The most positive decision that Buchanan and his administration made was to not run again for the presidency. Buchanan’s choice of inactive policy made no progress in America, and if Buchanan had been reelected for another term, there is no doubt that the Union would have been in a dark position with a low-quality leader. Thus, Buchanan’s decision to step down from the office of President was the decision he made as the President.
Negative Outcome
The most negative decision that Buchanan and his administrations made was supporting the Supreme Court Dredd Scott decision. Seeing as Buchanan’s goal was to unify the North and the South, this was the least effective thing he could do. It is implied that Buchanan urged the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the South, and even the Southerners were surprised in the decision that basically eradicated any progress made by abolitionists so far. Supporting the Dredd Scott ruling was completely unnecessary and contradictory to Buchanan’s goals as president, and he should have predicted that the North would have hated the South a great deal more because of it.
Influential Decision
President Buchanan’s most influential decision was the lack of action when South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860. President Buchanan stuck to the Constitution with great tenacity, and he idly watched as the Southern states rejected their place in the Union to start their own country. The seceding states left with so much ease, that it is said that President Buchanan ensured the Civil War would happen. Instead of taking any steps to reinforce the power of the federal government over the rebellious states, Buchanan sat back and waited for compromise, though none ever came, as the Southern states were stubborn in their desire for secession. Any action that Buchanan could have taken might have made a difference, but no, Buchanan rather have had done nothing at all than to possibly violate the Constitution. Clearly, the president that Buchanan’s actions or lack thereof influenced the most was President Lincoln, who had to clean up the mess that Buchanan left for him. President Buchanan left the country in a state of turmoil and rebellion, and Lincoln had to find a way to stitch the country back together.
Conclusion
President Monroe had an unimpressive impact on the country, thus his grade of a F. During his time in office, Buchanan takes little to no action on any matters, increases the division between the North and South, and oversimplifies the blatantly controversial issue of slavery in America. All of this contradicted the goals Buchanan outlined in his inaugural address, and thus, he made absolutely no progress for America.
Bibliography
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Buchanan, James. "Miller Center." American President: American President. University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://millercenter.org/president/keyevents/buchanan>.
Cohen, Hennig. "Herman Melville Biography." Herman Melville Biography. Brandeis University, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/melvillebio.html>.
"Extreme Oil." PBS. PBS, 2004. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/extremeoil/history/1850.html>.
"James Buchanan." James Buchanan. Tulane University, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.tulane.edu/~latner/Buchanan.html>.
"James Buchanan." The White House. The White House Historical Association, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesbuchanan>.
"On This Day." NYTimes. New York Times, 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/harp/1129.html>.
Walter, Rosaline P. "American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/whaling-melville/>.